Brock Holt returns
LOS ANGELES - Adrian Beltre had a career that has put him firmly in the conversation for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
So when the former Red Sox third baseman says what he said about Rafael Devers Saturday on the Dodger Stadium field, it should be duly noted.
"I think he is going to be way better than me," said Beltre when asked about Devers.
Better?!
"He is. He’s better than me," Beltre reiterated. "If he stays healthy, no doubt. No doubt he’s going to be better."
The two have been linked since Devers' introduction to the major leagues, with Red Sox manager Alex Cora putting the two in touch. Cora, who played with Beltre with the Dodgers, has routinely compared the pair's progression, with the 21-year big-leaguer evolving into the five-time Gold Glover he became.
"That kid is so talented," said Beltre, who was assisting the American League prospects in Saturday's Futures Game. "I was always a fan, the way he carries himself, the way he learns, the way he is humble in asking questions. We talked before and he asked some questions about defense and stuff, and he’s come a long way. I’m a big fan and I can’t wait for him to stay healthy and see how good he will become. He’s a special kid.
Alex talked to me about him and I saw a lot of me in him, not being comfortable in the fact he needed to slow down the game, especially defensively. When I explained things, how to view things, how I learned the hard way and I wish somebody would have tell me early, so I told him early. He learned right away. I saw the changes. He texted me a couple of times, ‘Hey, I did this like this.’ We kept it going and kept in touch … Man, he’s a player."
Beltre's evolution - which started with him making 29 errors as a 20-year-old - stretched beyond just his improved statistics.
He explained that the process of improving stretched to how me approached his practice and personality.
"It’s going to take time because anybody who is talented and has the tools, it’s going to take the repetition to understand the game and slow the game in order to use the tools later on," Beltre said. "I had the tools, but I had to go through it to understand, ‘OK, this works for me.’ Not because something worked for me will work for him. He has to figure out now what works for him and he has to learn that early enough so he can play his game."
The third baseman - who made the American League All-Star team in his only season with the Red Sox (2010) - added, "He has his own personality. But I like the fact that he is starting to have fun. It took me a long time to have fun. I knew I needed to play hard and do things right, but I thought I had to be serious about it. When I learned you can have fun and do your job I kind of started playing better. I think he’s getting that and he’s going to be a phenomenal player. Once you get more comfortable, have more fun, you’re going to play better."
Beltre retired after the 2018 season, having totaled 477 home runs and a career .286 batting average while boasting an OPS of .819. He finished in the Top 9 in MVP voting six times.
Beltre's breakout season came in 2004 at the age of 25, when he hit 48 home runs and finished second in National League MVP voting. Devers is currently 25 years old, turning 26 on Oct. 24.